Chapter 42
Keir
My mate’s dragoness is massive, her obsidian scales gleaming under the harsh sun as she soars through the air.
She even dwarfs her mate Corvis’s dragon, her wingspan casting shadows that race across the ground beneath us.
We follow the coastline north, the salt spray occasionally misting my face as waves crash against the jagged cliffs below.
The wind whistles past my ears, carrying the tang of salt and the earthy scent of the approaching mountains.
Raven banks sharply to the left, my stomach lurching pleasantly with the sudden movement.
Below us, her mother’s flight circles the stone fortress, their iridescent scales flashing in the sunlight.
I spot her parents standing on the upper courtyard, their posture rigid and alert as they watch our approach.
Raven roars, and I feel every vibration of her voice echoing through my bones like thunder.
The sound reverberates in my chest, primal and powerful.
A smaller black dragoness launches from the courtyard, her movements more nimble but less controlled.
It must be her sister Lily. They play on the thermals for a few minutes, their bodies twisting and diving through invisible currents, before Lily turns back toward the fortress.
Ahead of us, an oasis emerges from the barren landscape as if it were pulled straight from a fairy tale.
The scent of tropical flowers in full bloom fills my nostrils—sweet jasmine, exotic orchids, and something spicy I can’t name.
My mouth waters at the intense fragrance.
Raven circles the small landing area three times, her massive wings creating gusts that bend the palm trees below, before setting down with surprising gentleness.
Her dragoness barely fits the area she landed in, her tail curling around the perimeter to make room. I phase from her back to stand before her, the sudden shift making my vision blur momentarily as my feet touch the warm, soft sand.
I watch as she spreads her wings wide, the membrane between her wing bones thin enough that sunlight filters through in a crimson glow.
I remember Corvis saying I needed to inspect her dragon—an odd ritual, but important to them and their shift.
Slowly, I walk around her, my eyes carefully examining her wings and the strength of her scales.
They’re blacker than pitch, a darkness so complete it seems to swallow the light.
The heat radiating from her body warms my skin even from several feet away.
Then I notice some scales look more basilisk than dragon—smaller, more numerous, with a subtle pattern etched into each one. Her healing abilities make more sense now. It’s as plain as the scales on her body, the evidence of her mixed heritage written across her form.
Raven shifts back to her humanoid form and holds her wings wide again.
The transformation is fluid, scales receding into skin with a sound like sand shifting.
Her eyes remain shifted to those of her dragon as she watches me—vertical pupils surrounded by glowing sapphire irises.
There’s a visible tremor in her hands as I watch scales ripple up and down her arms, appearing and disappearing like waves on shore.
Her slitted eyes follow me as I move around her.
The intensity of her gaze is unnerving and expectant at the same time.
“I’m barely holding it together, Keir.” Raven’s voice shakes as I watch the scales ripple down her arms again. The scent of her anxiety reaches me—sharp and metallic, like hot metal in rain.
“What do you need me to do?” I’m at a loss here. She’s a dragon; I’m a blink hound. Our mating rituals are vastly different, and I can feel my own instincts stirring beneath my skin.
“What do we need to do for your shift?” She folds her wings tight against her back and wraps her arms around herself. I can hear her heartbeat quickening, the rhythm slightly erratic.
I step close, closing the distance between us until her heat envelops me, and run my lips over the pulse in her throat.
Every beat thumps under my lips, strong and vital.
I breathe in her scent—sea salt and jasmine and something uniquely Raven.
“Run,” I whisper against her skin. I need the chase.
It’s something about the thought of her trying to escape that makes my blood boil and race straight to my cock, hardening it instantly.
Raven’s eyes widen as she stares at me, pupils dilating until the amber is nearly swallowed by black. She turns and takes off running, her bare feet barely making impressions in the sand. The giggles that escape her are musical and carefree, a sound I rarely hear from my serious mate.
I have about five, maybe ten seconds of enjoying watching her laugh and run—appreciating the way her body moves with preternatural grace—before my prey drive kicks in.
My muscles tense, my vision sharpens, and I chase her.
“I’m gonna get you!” I yell as I run after her, my voice deeper than normal, roughened by desire.
Raven actually squeals as she uses her talons to grip the trunk of a palm tree to make a tight turn, leaving gouges in the bark. The sound of her excitement sends shivers down my spine.
I shift as I run, the world suddenly taller as I drop to four legs, my senses sharpening even further.
I get ahead of her and bark; the sound echoing off the mountain walls.
She skids to a stop, sending up a spray of sand, and starts laughing.
Her scent is intoxicating now—arousal mixing with exertion.
“No fair!” She’s still laughing as she looks down at me, her chest rising and falling with quick breaths.
“Shift back, Keir.” She walks away towards an opening in the mountain.
From here, I can see that the entrance looks like she melted the rock with her acid at some point, the edges smooth and glassy.
I shift back, the brief disorientation fading quickly, and follow her.
When I finally step into the cavern, all I find is her clothing scattered on the beach and her footprints leading towards the water.
The air is cooler here, heavy with moisture.
A natural pool fills most of the cave, its surface glittering with reflected light from an opening in the ceiling.
Arching a brow, I slowly strip out of my corset, the binding fabric releasing my chest with a welcome relief. I see Raven surface, her eyes just above the waterline. The blue glow of her eyes locks on my fingers as I slip the corset off, the intensity of her gaze almost a physical touch on my skin.
Looking down at the buttons on my dress shirt, I unbutton them one at a time, deliberately slow. The soft pop of each button seems loud in the quiet cavern. Glancing up, I see she has drifted closer, creating gentle ripples in the water. I have her attention now; her gaze hungry.
Turning my back to her, I finish removing my shirt, the air cool against my heated skin as I drop it to the sand. I slide my hands to my belt and pull it out of its loops before dropping it to the ground with a soft thud. The sound of dripping water grows louder behind me as Raven approaches.
My hands slide to my pants, and I pop the button and pull the sides apart, letting the zipper make a deliberate noise as it falls.
Lithe hands, slightly cool from the water, rest on my hips then slip under my pants and slide the fabric down my thighs.
Water droplets from her body run down my legs, raising goosebumps in their wake.
A soft purr escapes Raven as she presses her lips to my shoulder blade.
Her breath washes over my skin, warm in contrast to her cool hands, sending heat straight to my groin.
My cock hardens, the sensitive tip brushing against my stomach as blood rushes south.
I stand still, every muscle tense with anticipation, waiting to see what she’s going to do.
Slowly she walks around me, her fingers roaming over my skin, leaving trails of fire wherever she touches.
When she comes to stand before me, water glistening on her naked form like tiny diamonds, her eyes slowly move over my body.
Her gaze locks on the angry red knot at the base of my shaft, and I hear her breath catch in her throat, the scent of her arousal intensifying until it’s almost overwhelming.
As she stares, I reach out and slide my hand along her skin to cup her cheek, turning her face up.
Before she gets the chance, I crush my lips to hers, stealing her breath from her lungs, eliciting a moan from her.
Reaching out, I scoop her up in my arms, one banding around her lower back and the other under her ass.
She can feel the heat of my length so close to where she wants it.
Raven wiggles her hips trying to line us up.
I lift her up and lower her onto my length. Every inch she slips down my shaft, I feel like I have died and gone to heaven. The bond burns so bright and feels like she’s hugging my soul. Her dragon slitted eyes focus wholly on me, and I feel like I am the only man in the world.
Carefully, I walk us over to where the furs are and lay her down.
Raven moves her wings where they need to be so they don’t get hurt.
“Move Keir, please…” She whines and my beast perks up at the sound.
I roll my hips slowly, dragging my length through her slick heat.
Instinct screams at me to rut into her, bury my length into her and lock my knot in place. Raven deserves better than that.
Raven paws at my back, pulling me down to her.
I press a little more of my weight down on her, and the sweetest purr escapes her lips.
With each thrust, her hips rise to meet me.
I rest all of my weight on my left forearm as my right hand reaches down to raise her right leg up to rest her calf over my forearm, changing the angle.